After a century of waiting, the Oscars are finally introducing a dedicated category for stunt design.
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Board of Governors announced today that an Oscar for Outstanding Stunt Design will debut at the 2028 ceremony. The revelation came through the Academy's social media channels, featuring images from acclaimed films like Everything Everywhere All at Once (2022), RRR (2022), and Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011).
While these films showcased exceptional stunt work, eligibility for the new award will begin with productions released during 2027.
The 2028 ceremony will coincide with the Oscars' centennial celebration.
"Stunt design has been fundamental to filmmaking since cinema's inception," stated Academy CEO Bill Kramer and President Janet Yang in their joint announcement. "We're thrilled to recognize these technical artists' groundbreaking contributions and celebrate their perseverance in achieving this milestone."
Detailed category rules will be announced closer to the 2027 eligibility period.
The stunt design Oscar represents a hard-won triumph in Hollywood's decades-long struggle to honor stunt professionals. Oscar categories undergo annual voting - proposals for stunt coordination were rejected every year from 1991 through 2012.
The most recent addition was the Achievement in Casting award, approved last year for implementation at the 98th Oscars honoring 2025 releases.
